Photo: John Denny
Photo: John Denny
Photo: John Denny
Heslop's Local Advertiser 24/11/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Fenwick Newton Fatkin was born 1892 at Heworth, County Durham, one of 6 known children, 5 sons and 1 daughter born to James Newton Fatkin, a colliery worker, born at Minsteracres near Hexham, Northumberland in 1855 and his wife Emma Milburn born 1855 at Heworth. He married Emma, a widow with a son Thomas, in the district of Gateshead in 1882 and by 1891 they were living at 5 Fourth Street, Heworth, moving later to Caldwell Terrace. Fenwick’s mother died during the second quarter of 1910, he can be found living with his widowed father and younger brothers Ernest and Edgar, in 1911, at 12 Rowlandson Terrace, Felling along with the 56 year old widow Mrs J.L. Skipsy, employed as a housekeeper. His father worked as a brakeman, Ernest, only 14, as a screener at the colliery, however, Fenwick, now 18, was employed by the railway as a porter.
At the outbreak of War he enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned to the Royal Field Artillery as Driver 114101, attached to the 20th (Light) Division. He served with the Division in France as of January 1916, part of the R. F. A. Ammunition Column carrying reserve ammunition for the guns, machine guns, rifles and all arms of the combatants of his Division. During 1916 the Division participated at the Battle of Mount Sorrel, phases of the Battles of the Somme at Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Transloy, in 1917 in the phases of the Third Battle of Ypres at Langemarck, Menin Road Ridge and Polygon Wood.
Driver 114101 Fenwick Newton Fatkin was killed in action September 5th 1917, he was 25 years old and single. He is interred, grave II. H. 35, Canada Farm Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium. The cemetery takes its name from a farmhouse used by the allies as a dressing station during 1917 and most of the burials are men who died there.
All monies due to Driver Fatkin, at his request, were distributed amongst his siblings, including his half-brother. In recognition of his service he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His younger brother Ernest also served, firstly in the Durham Light Infantry as Private 28100 and also as Private 402586 in the Labour Corps. He survived the conflict and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Fenwick’s father, James Newton Fatkin died August 24th 1940 at Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, aged 85 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/11/1917 reports:
Our Roll of Honour
Driver Fenwick N. Fatkin, R.F.A., of Heworth, killed in action, Sept. 5th.
John Denny has submitted these photographs taken at Canada Farm Cemetery on 29th May 2015. He says:
Two are of Fenwick Fatkin's grave (found in a muddied condition I'm afraid) and the remainder are of the actual cemetery with the former dressing station in the background. This is now a working farmhouse of course.
My wife is distantly related to him through Robert Fatkin who was Fenwick's grandfather.
Fenwick Newton Fatkin is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
